This line was built by the Duluth and Manitoba Railroad, starting at a connection with the Duluth, Crookston and Northern Railroad at Fertile in 1886, and reaching Grand Forks by 1887. The railroad came under the control of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1898.
The segment of the line north of Fertile to Tilden Junction was abandoned in 1959, with the remainder of the line abandoned in 1982. A small portion of the line just north out of Tilden Junction is still in use by BNSF Railway to serve a local customer.